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Luzerne County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents in low-lying areas of the county, amid concerns of near record flooding of the Susquehanna River.

The National Weather Service has predicted the Susquehanna River will crest Friday at 38.5 feet, which would be the second highest crest in the area's history.

At a meeting with officials from municipalities along the river, Emergency Management Agency Director Steve Bekanich said the impending flood could be a "major, potentially catastrophic event for our area."

The evacuation order affects an estimated 50,000 county residents, Bekanich said.

Officials are waiting until 6 a.m. on Thursday to determine whether to order evacuations of municipalities protected by the Wyoming Valley Levee System. The levee protects those municipalities up to to 41 feet.

Bekanich said officials are recommending Luzerne County schools be closed Thursday and Friday; all Wilkes-Barre Area schools will be closed tomorrow, Superintendent Jeffrey T. Namey said. They will close Friday if necessary, Namey said.

"We are going into a place we have not been in this community in a very long time," said Jim Brozena, director of the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority.

In June 2006, about 150,000 people were evacuated from the Wyoming Valley when the projected crest was between 35 and 37 feet. The crest ended up being 34.14 feet.

The crest following Hurricane Agnes, which caused catastrophic damage to the area in 1972, was 40.91 feet.

County officials said the river is rapidly rising and will reach 28 feet by 2 a.m. Thursday, which would endanger people in low-lying areas.

At 22 feet, minor flooding begins. Affected areas include the lowlands in Plainsville and Plymouth Flats.

At 24 feet, Canal Street in Shickshinny and lowlands in Pittston begin to flood.

At 27 feet, Route 11 in West Nanticoke and River Road in Plainsville begin to flood.

At 28 feet, moderate flooding begins. Route 11 in West Nanticoke is closed. Canal Street in West Nanticoke begins to flood.

At 29 feet, Route 11 in Shickshinny is closed. River Road in Port Blanchard and West Pittston begin to flood.

At 31 feet, Hollenback Park in Wilkes-Barre floods. Duryea and West Pittston are affected. Brookside area begins to flood.

At 32 feet, Main Street in Shickshinny floods.

At 33 feet, Mocanaqua begins in flood.

At 35 feet, Dundee area in Hanover Township begins to flood. Route 11 in Edwardsville floods.

At 36 feet, Nescopeck Borough begins to flood.

The top 10 flood crests in for the Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre were:

1) 40.91 ft on 06/24/1972

(2) 35.06 ft on 09/27/1975

(3) 34.96 ft on 09/19/2004

(4) 34.45 ft on 01/20/1996

(5) 34.14 ft on 06/28/2006

(6) 33.10 ft on 03/18/1865

(7) 33.07 ft on 03/20/1936

(8) 31.60 ft on 05/29/1946

(9) 31.50 ft on 04/01/1940

(10) 31.40 ft on 03/02/1902

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